Ellen McCarthy

Trust in U.S. media is at a historic low, forcing newsrooms to adapt. The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and others are testing new approaches, from transparency about reporters to short-form explainers on social media. But with polarisation, the real measure of success will be whether these efforts move beyond image and actually convince audiences that journalism still deserves their trust. businessinsider.com/media-trust-cr… #Trustinmedia #News #Polarisation

How can efforts to rebuild trust in institutions backfire? Andrew Carroll makes the case that treating science as a slogan during the COVID pandemic eroded trust. and that rebuilding it requires clear communication of uncertainty and process. We need to stop reducing important institutions to simple slogans. washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/…

I found Gretel Kahn's article to be a highly interesting read. Different newsroom outlets are revealing their methods, funding, and sourcing to their audiences. Early results are showing that this transparency helps, and it can help signal accountability and build credibility. We need to see this example as a model for building trust. niemanlab.org/2025/05/these-… #TrustinMedia #Newsrooms #Transparency

Our August newsletter just recently went live. In addition to updating everyone on our work, we also introduced our INQ dashboard-which helps readers navigate through today’s complicated information environment. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback to us on this exciting tool. Would love for you to give it a read: mailchi.mp/cbe86884b66a/t…

A @Yale study found people often trust fake local news sites more than real ones, even after learning how to tell the difference. The look and feel of trust can be just as powerful as the facts behind it. 🔗 isps.yale.edu/news/blog/2025… #TrustInMedia #MediaLiteracy #Yale #AI

Last night’s Covert Cocktails at the @IntlSpyMuseum was a powerful reminder that service, seen and unseen, still matters. Honored to stand watch at the Virginia Hall exhibit, whose legacy continues to inspire. #SpyMuseum #NatSec #Trust

It is hard to understand why the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) wasn’t exempt from State Department RIFs. INR is not only one of the smallest members of the U.S. intelligence community,but one of the most trusted. Known for its deep expertise, non-politicized analysis, and long institutional memory, INR has consistently delivered high-impact intelligence that supports diplomacy and protects national security. This isn’t just about jobs, it’s about weakening a critical capability at exactly the wrong time. The world is more complex, more volatile, and more interconnected than ever. We need strong, steady intelligence to inform foreign policy decisions. Cutting from INR is shortsighted, and the consequences will be felt far beyond Foggy Bottom. We should be investing in INR, not shrinking it. #INR #StateDepartment #NationalSecurity #ForeignPolicy #Intelligence #PublicService

Had a chance to listen to @Trevornoah's new podcast episode with @jonstewart, and their discussion of transparency in media and institutions reminded me of the work that strives for! It serves as a reminder of the importance of good data, not warped and manipulated data, that better serves the American people to make the best decisions for themselves in their everyday life. I’d highly recommend giving it a listen!

We just sent out our first Trust in Media newsletter! It’s full of what we’ve been building and why information quality matters more than ever. Would love if you gave it a read: mailchi.mp/fb5fd3b89828/t… #InformationQuality #Trust #TIMCoop

Joined The Government Huddle with @ChidesterAB and Dr. David Bray to talk synthetic data, trust gaps, local resilience, and why privacy still matters in a connected world. Give it a listen! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/186… #AI #Trust #Community #Privacy #TIMCoop

In Denmark’s largest FB group on asthma/eczema, 52% of behavior-change advice was misleading—esp. around exercise & diet. Peer support ≠ quality info. We need better infrastructure. That’s what @TIMCooperative is building. frontiersin.org/journals/aller…

Today we honor Juneteenth and the enduring strength of the African-American community. It’s a reminder that freedom, justice, and equality exist because generations fought for them and kept moving the line forward. Days like this call us to keep doing the work. #Juneteenth #Freedom #Equality #TIMCoop

Gatekeeping isn’t the problem. Losing standards is. Chris Myers Asch makes the case for why peer review still matters, and what’s at risk without it. We need to rethink what real accountability looks like. whatsgoneright.org/p/holding-hist…

@StephenMarrin Thanks for sharing! @trust in media we believe trust must be earned and explained—not just assumed. Whether it’s a national security briefing or a breaking news story, people deserve to see how the information was built—not just the headline.

New article in Intelligence and National Security titled "Trust without knowledge? UK intelligence agencies and the public trust conundrum" by Ged Hiscoke, Stephen Ward & Daniel Lomas at tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

We’re not losing the information war because others are stronger. We’re losing ground because we’ve stopped showing up. This week’s Building Our Future breaks down what happens when public defenses fall — and why it’s up to all of us now. #InformationIntegrity #DigitalTrust #CivicHealth #AI #Future buildingourfuture.substack.com/p/surrendering…

Proud #USC alum moment. 💡 Professor Marcia Purday is showing what it really means to teach AI - not just tools, but trust, strategy & impact. Go Gamecocks! #AI #EthicalAI #DigitalTrust sc.edu/study/colleges…

Dublin-bound for @the_iapp AI Governance Global Europe 2025! Excited to dig into the EU AI Act, responsible innovation, and what real accountability in AI systems can look like. Let’s connect if you’re going! #AIGG #AI #EUAIAct #AIGG25 #DigitalTrust #IAPP

Tacos, margaritas, and celebrating resilience? Sounds like Cinco de Mayo! 🎉🌮🍹 Here’s to culture, community, and a little extra joy today. #CincoDeMayo #Community #Culture

TikTok is launching “Footnotes,” a crowdsourced fact-checking feature. It’s not about replacing experts — it’s about expanding reach and giving users a bigger role in maintaining integrity online. #FactChecking #TikTok #TrustInMediaCooperative theverge.com/news/649828/ti…

A kid sees 20 space aliens in sunglasses. They’re told: “All zorpies have 3 eyes.” So they start checking—lifting sunglasses, one by one. Turns out: even 4-year-olds instinctively fact-check. #FactCheck #media #news @sciam scientificamerican.com/article/even-f…